Nervecell – Preaching Venom

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Noteable for being one of the only metal bands from the United Arab Emirates, Nervecell’s big break came with the advent of Dubai Desert Rock, an international metal festival held in their home city of Dubai. Nervecell played the festival in 2005, which led to a headlining appearance at the Egypt Metal Festival, a slot at Metalcamp in Slovenia, a tour of Australia and eventually slots at the biggest festivals in Europe in 2009, including Wacken Open-Air, With Full Force and Rock Am Ring. Preaching Venom is their full-length debut and while vocally it’s standard death metal stuff, musically it’s an incredible mix of Exodus, Slipknot, Emperor and prog time changes. Devastating at every turn Nervecell combine melody (the leads on Vicious Circle of Bloodshed and Existence Ceased are unbelievable), speed and unrelenting heaviness with a strong emphasis on technical playing. Expertly produced by Kiran Sequeira and mixed in Poland at Hertz Studios, Preaching Venom is more than monotonous blast beats and full-speed riffs, but rather ever-changing complex playing that echoes Nevermore at their most ferocious. Death metal fans should be very excited by this album.

Written by Andy Lye
More: Albums, Death Metal, Quick.Play Reviews, Nervecell